Another word from Peter

Our guest blogger is back, Peter Underwood with his narrow boat Blackberry way writes;

In praise of hirers

I like meeting hirers on our travels around the system – quite miss them in the winter months, in fact.

Hirers are almost always cheerful, happy and determined to enjoy themselves no matter what the weather. They come in all shapes, sizes and nationalities and are usually happy to talk to anyone they meet.

I wish the same were true of all private boats, some will pass with their eyes averted and nose in the air, even if you call out a hearty ‘good afternoon,’ and I sometimes wonder if they are actually enjoying the canals.

Back to those lovely hirers. I am especially fond of those groups of young fit people who are cruising the wide canals at the same time as we want to move Blackberry Way through a flight of locks – it halves the work.

Most inexperienced hirers happily admit they have things to learn and just a few weeks ago we came up the Hatton flight on the Grand Union with a lovely family from Hamburg who were delighted to learn how you can take two boats into a wide lock side by side and avoid all the hassle of one going in first and having to hug one lock wall while the other follows.

Sometimes their energy is too much and when they wanted to follow the 21 Hatton locks with another 21 at Lapworth, following a pint in the pub, we decided to let them continue unaccompanied. Just a week or so ago Tomas and his family sent us a collection of pictures they had shot during their adventure along with an e-mail thanking us for our help and advice.

Even better in a way is the experienced hirer who prides his or her self in their knowledge and techniques. With them we can relax and chat as we go through the lock flights.

And that brings me to the point on this ramble. More experienced hirers are often likely to avoid the pressure of completing cruising rings and settle for a slower run that allows them to take in the beauty of a particular stretch of canal without working many hours a day because they have to make it back to the hire base.

Given the price of fuel and the fact that some simply find it stretches them too far I would like to see more hire companies take the effort to explain other cruising options and even dissuade hirers from a hard-working week completing the Four Counties or any other ring.

It would mean a bit of research but they could easily recommend week long journeys that meant travelling two or three hours a day, taking in fascinating local sights and relaxing in beautiful surroundings.

Rather than setting a route that means either 10 or even 12 hours in motion every day for seven days how about one that says, “Get up late and enjoy the walk down the lane to the local bakery before popping down three locks to enjoy a stroll around the gardens of this National Trust house. There is a smashing butcher in the next village along and his steaks are well worth buying for the barbecue you might enjoy at the picnic area half a mile along the canal.”

The hirer may only travel a few miles and come back the same way but I bet they go back more relaxed and more in love with the canals than if they return home exhausted and aching from all the effort.

Of course it requires good local knowledge but most of the small and personal hire firms have this already in their heads.

At least it should be an option – do you want fast and furious or slow and easy?

Peter

If you agree with Peter or not, let me know your thoughts.

Regards

Simon